Fruit of the Spirit October 18, 2009
Galatians 5:22-23
Patience
What is patience? – waiting without getting upset
Patience with people. – often the little things – bad driving (or perceived bad driving), family members quirks, mistakes, but also sin – It’s the Spirit’s job to convict, but we’d like to help him along.
Road Rage
From Bob Bob Mionske’s Blog on Cyclists and the Law http://bicycling.com/blogs/roadrights/2009/07/23/what-is-road-rage/
Charles Montgomery writes:
"The driving experience primes car drivers for meltdowns. They are conditioned by popular culture to see cars as symbols of freedom, yet city driving is a slow-motion trap that subjects drivers to constant restrictions on their movement. Drivers are thwarted from enjoying the promise of motion by traffic lights, by congestion – and yes, by cyclists – and they suffer the natural but impossible desire to escape and move forward. All this while being strapped to their seats!"
In fact, there are a number of factors influencing driver anger; road rage psychologist Dr. Leon James has identified fifteen sources of driver anger, including:
• Restriction: “Being prevented from moving forward when you expect to arouses frustration, and along with it anxiety and an intense desire to escape the restriction. This anxiety prompts drivers to perform risky or aggressive maneuvers to get away or get ahead.”
• Regulation: Regulation of driving “feels like an imposition and arouses a rebellious streak in many, which then prompts them to disregard whatever regulations seem wrong or inconvenient.”
• Lack of personal control: The “lack of personal control over traffic events is frustrating and often leads to venting anger on whoever is around.”
• Being put in danger: “Hair-raising close calls and hostile incidents” result in “physiological stress, along with many negative emotions — fear, resentment, rage, a sense of helplessness, and a depressed mood.”
• Venting: Vented anger “is felt as an energizing rush. This seductive feeling is short-lived, and is accompanied by a stream of anger-inspiring thoughts that impair judgment and tempt us into rash and dangerous actions.”
• Unpredictability: “Streets and highways create an environment of drama, danger, and uncertainty.”
These feelings, simmering beneath the surface, threaten to boil over in anger as soon as somebody to blame can be found. And then along rolls a cyclist, taking up road space, slowing people down, wearing funny clothes, not paying taxes, and not even obeying the law! Never mind that some of these stereotypes may not even be true; the cyclist makes a convenient scapegoat to blame.
Patience with circumstances – we make plans, and want to stick to them, but everything seems to get in the way.
Patience with capital – much of the current meltdown of the economy has to do with the impatience of investors – we want to double our money now. I heard this amazing woman Jacqueline Novogratz share stories of how "patient capital" can bring sustainable jobs, goods, services -- and dignity -- to the world’s poorest. – If investors have a vision that goes beyond betting on the fastest horse, and are willing to work with entrepreneurs in the 3rd world, we can move beyond charity to true development.
Patience with history – How long oh Lord? – 7 times the Psalmist asks this.
Psalm 89:46
How long, LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?
God’s patience
Exodus 34:5-7 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin..."
What causes impatience? – ask congregation or show “everything’s amazing… nobody’s happy”
How does the Spirit grow the fruit of Patience within us?
Refining
It is said that there is a type of pinecone that only opens up and gives it’s seed in the midst of a fire. Whether this is true foe the pinecone or not, I think that it is true for the fruit of patience.
When I was on a mission trip as a teenager, whenever anything went wrong we cried, “Who prayed for patience?”
Romans 5
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Contentment
Paul: Philippians 4:11-13 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Compassion
Mark 6:34
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
How do we cultivate patience?
Eternal Perspective – what will it matter in eternity?
2 Peter 3:8-9,15 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
Holding your priorities/plans lightly – this is my calling, my plan, my priority; not everyone else’s.
Expectation
Patience with the special needs kids at camp – I expected them to go slow.
Cyclists on the path on the weekend – should have expected lots of people
